Use dialogue to resolve Senkaku row: China to Japan

Beijing: China has requested Japan to refrain from any action that might violate the former`s territorial sovereignty and suggested using dialogue and negotiation to resolve the ongoing dispute over the Diaoyu Islands.

"The Japanese side should maintain Sino-Japanese relations through concrete action," Xinhua quoted Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qin Gang as saying on Friday while reacting on the recent illegal detainment and release of 14 Chinese nationals by Japan.

The 14 Chinese arrived at the Diaoyu Islands via a Hong Kong fishing vessel on Wednesday to assert China`s sovereignty over the islands and were subsequently detained by the Japanese Coast Guard.

Qin said Japan`s detainment of Chinese citizens near the Diaoyu Islands shows a serious violation of China`s territorial sovereignty.

The Chinese government strongly condemns and opposes the dangerous actions, such as converging attack, taken by the Japanese ships to obstruct Chinese vessel, Qin said.